Thursday Morning Commute - Bishop

It is warm out there, no?

Another cyclist was robbed on the Met Branch Trail (the third in 10 days). This time without the perpetrator asking him what time it was. As the victim neared a man who was standing on the trail, the man drew a handgun and pointed it. After ordering the bicyclist to place his possessions on the ground, the robber seized two cellphones and a wallet and told the bicyclist to go on his way. The neighborhood wants to increase bike patrols.

The Bradley Blvd bike lane is moving forward. Montgomery County's Department of Transportation has set aside $1 million to start designing the nearly one-mile track of bikeway, meant to connect the Capital Crescent Trail to Wilson Lane along Bradley Boulevard. It is the first part of a larger plan to build a seven-mile biking path down Wilson Lane and Persimmon Tree Road....MDOT's facility planning manager said her department recommends an 8-foot shared-use path on the north side of the road and a four-foot-wide bike lane along both sides of the road. Some complain that it will exacerbate traffic problems (unlikely) and lead to the removal of as many as 154 trees.

Frequent commenter krickey7 writes to the Post to note that most cyclists and cycling organizations support the Purple Line. "Most bikers who use the trail are fine with the train. That includes everyone I know, and I use the trail, and all of the bicycle advocacy groups that have weighed in on it. Why? Because it just plain makes sense on every level. How people can think providing mass transit options (and making cycling options better) will result in road traffic getting worse is the onlymystery here. If we do nothing, road traffic assuredly will get worse. And the effrontery of special interest groups wrapping themselves in conservationist garb is grating. This project is a net benefit to the environment"

Washington's new Episcopal Bishop is a cyclist. I love the bike paths around Rock Creek and up and down the Potomac. I remember them with just amazing fondness. One of the things I really want to do is have Bishop Bike Rides, where we’ll take bike rides as a group around the District or to southern Maryland. I plan to get to know the area on my bike.

Sidewalk cyclists write to John Kelly to defend the practice. Joyce Migdall, who wrote: “According to the laws of Virginia, ‘Bicycles may be ridden on sidewalks unless prohibited by local ordinance or traffic control devices. While on sidewalks and shared use paths, bicyclists must always yield the right of way to pedestrians and give an audible signal before passing a pedestrian.’ Joyce invited me to bike from her house in Falls Church up Route 7 to Trader Joe’s. “I’ll be on the sidewalk beside you for much of the way,” she wrote.

With all the rcent talk about CaBi on the Mall, I was surprised last night's post on WTOP.com: "DDOT, National Park Service discussing bike share stations on National Mall," didn't make it this morning. (http://wtop.com/?nid=109&sid=2463555)

It was interesting to note that "[Bill] Line himself is an avid bicyclist who does not own a car."

"It is the first part of a larger plan to build a seven-mile biking path down Wilson Lane and Persimmon Tree Road....MDOT's facility planning manager said her department recommends an 8-foot shared-use path on the north side of the road and a four-foot-wide bike lane along both sides of the road."

@oboe - that's a typical "sprint" distance triathlon (as opposed to the Olympic or International distance, the Half-Ironman or the Ironman). There are a couple in the local area, including an option during the DC Triathlon held each June. Just be warned - they're very addicting. :)